Page 35 of Midnight Queen

“Della, why don't you leave for a little while. At least go get a shower and something to eat.”

Della shakes her head. “The guard who stays here with him while I sleep will be here around dawn. I’ll go then so Duke’s not alone.”

“He won't be alone. I’ll stay here. You need a break, and I really want to spend some time with him.” I want to make up for not being here all week when I could have been.

Della hesitates for a second, looking torn between caring for Duke and caring for herself. But in the end, she sighs in defeat, “I’ll only be gone an hour. Silas booked a hotel room across the street for me to sleep and shower at, that way I was close if anything were to happen with Duke. I’ll just run over there really quick and wash up.”

“Andeat something,” I insist.

“Yes, that as well.” Collecting her purse and sweater from the chair she’s been inhabiting for God knows how long, she reluctantly shuffles toward the sliding door. The way she narrows her eyes at Lorcan makes me sniffle a laugh.

I can understand how he grates on everyone's nerves, but I’m finding myself quite enjoying his company.

“I’ll walk you to the lobby,” he offers.

Della’s lips purse as she says, “That won't be necessary.”

His large, tattooed arm loops around her shoulders, “Oh, but I insist.” Looking back at me with a pointed look, he warns, “Don’t even think about leaving this room. I will be back in five minutes.”

“I’m exactly where I need to be,” is my answer to him.

Left alone, the sound of Duke’s machines is the only thing keeping me company. As I pull Della’s chair closer to the bed, I’m hit with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu when I sit down next to him. I didn’t think I would be sitting by a hospital bed so soon after Ira, but here I am doing just that.

“I really wish you were awake so I can thank you for trying to save me,” I whisper, clutching Duke’s hand between mine. “And I really wish you were awake so I could tell you everything that happened. I’m sure you’ll find a way to make me smile—you always do.”

The sound of the air being forcibly pushed into his lungs is his only reply.

“I’m really sorry I wasn’t here sooner.” The anger I feel at Silas surges forward. “He never should have kept what happened to you from me. It wasn’t fair for him to make that decision for me.” Memories of how Silas has been behaving all week flood my mind. I can feel his tender—almost nonexistent touches—and the way his midnight eyes watched my every move with worry and concern. “I need you to get better, Duke. I can’t lose anyone else.”

I sit there for another minute, just watching the unnatural way his chest rises and falls from the ventilator. I’m about to get up and ask the nurse if I could get a shaving kit for his beard when I hear the sliding glass door open again.

I stiffen in my chair and my heart starts racing when I hear the soft footsteps. They’re too slow—unsure sounding—for them to be Lorcan.

There’s a flash of purple from behind the curtain and I jump up from the chair.

Instantly, my mind begins to fill with all the possibilities of what’s to come next. Will I need to protect myself? If so, how? Maybe I can get around them and find Lorcan, but I can’t leave Duke here unprotected. All I know is that Silas is going to bepissedthat I left the house and put myself in harm’s wayagain.

The chair skids against the tile floor when I take a step back from the stranger that stands in front of me. I don’t know what I’m expecting from her, but to find that her eyes are as wide as mine, isn’t it. She looks as surprised and concerned as I feel.

“Oh shit, you’re not supposed to be here.” The girl's face pulls in a grimace. “I saw the lady leave and thought the room would be empty.”

She takes a step toward Duke’s bed, and without thinking it fully through, I step forward, hand raised, halting her movements. “That’s close enough,” I warn, carefully putting myself between her and Duke. Her dark brows rise, and a bored look crosses her face, but still, I don’t back down. “I don’t know who you are or what you want, but I know for a fact that you’re not supposed to be in here. My guard will be back any second, and he’s a lot scarier than I am.”

She juts her thumb over her shoulder. “Your guard? Wait, are you talking aboutLorcan?” Her hazel eyes roll dramatically. “I saw him leave with the lady—Seriously? Silas trusted that leprechaun to be your ‘guard’? What the hell is he thinking?”

I know the confusion is clear in my expression as I stare back at her. She knows Lorcan and Silas? Who the hell is this girl? “I feel like I’m missing some key information right now. Let’s back up here for a second… Whoexactlyare you?”

Like she’s familiar and comfortable in this space, she casually drops her large shoulder bag by the small side table. “I’m the girl who helped save your life, but you can call me Rory.”

Rory.

I recognize the name in a second. “You’re the hacker girl that works for Silas. You were the one who found out where Gideon was keeping me.”

She’s shorter than me by a few inches, but her strong personality makes up for what she’s lacking in the height department. Her lilac hair falls just above her shoulders in a long bob and her hazel eyes are lined with more makeup than I’ve ever worn in my life. It’s her stunningly beautiful black and gray tattoos that really grab your attention though. Almost every inch of her visible skin is covered, aside from her throat and face.

Her tattooed fingers rise to her forehead before she offers me a halfhearted salute. “That’d be me, and Iworkedfor Silas. I don’t anymore. I figured working for a fucking vampire might be hazardous to my health.” She slowly eyes me up and down. “Clearly, it’s worked out really well for you.”

Feeling more at ease with Rory’s presence, I relax and take a step back. Without needing an invitation, she shifts closer to Duke’s bed, but she doesn’t make any move to touch him. Her hands wrap around the plastic footboard, and she observes him with worried eyes.

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